How carriers and device manufacturers are screwing up Android devices
Submitted by charlie.collins on Tue, 07/20/2010 - 07:58
Tagged:
I love Android. I like the open nature, the architectural approach, and the way the project is managed by the OHA and the AOSP.
What I don't love so much is how carriers and handset manufacturers like to load up new devices with crapware like this:
That's the new Samsung Captivate. Arguably the best Android device AT&T has in its in store lineup (the Nexus One is fantastic, but it's not an in store average consumer choice, and the end is near anyway). In fact the Captivate is one of the best Android phones period, hardware wise. It's got a fantastic large super AMOLED screen, the fastest GPU in any Android phone out right now, a 1GHz CPU, HD video capabilities, Bluetooth 3.0, and it's thin (the thinnest Android device out right now) and light yet feels very solid in your hand.
With all that going for it, what's the problem with the Captivate? Well, it's all that crapware above that CANNOT BE REMOVED (not easily, not by your average consumer). Not only do I not want it, some of it is borderline underhanded gougeware. Several of those apps will *not work on wifi* and if you click into them once they automatically add on features that have additional monthly charges that you get auto-subscribed to (recurring until you unsubscribe). Most of the AT&T apps are also just plain confusing because they duplicate stock Android apps. Why the hell do I need the AT&T music app and the AT&T navigator? Oh, yeah, again, because they force me to use the carrier network (more charges) and they rope me into other AT&T services. Another downside is that AT&T has chosen to disallow the installation of third party apps from outside of the Android Market, that's not a huge problem for most consumers, but it's still a bummer for people that want more choices.
And, you get a bunch of great new contacts too.
One top of the app debacle, and the contact mangling (I'll add those if I want them, thank you) you can also see from the screen shots that you get a different theme and home screen (Launcher) than stock Android too (it's blue and grey, and has different icons, etc.). Apparently, this is the Samsung "TouchWiz" UI.
The colors in the theme actually aren't that bad. The problem is that many built in Android apps expect the stock theme and apparently themselves have colors and graphics customized for it, so it makes for an uglier and less seamless UI overall. That's arguably an issue with said apps (like the Market), but still, it's there. It's not as bad as some other carriers, but the real problem is that it's not what I want and I don't have a choice.
As another example, I also recently got an HTC EVO 4G from Google I/O (thanks Google!). This is also a very impressive hardware device. But, dissapointingly, it's saddled by even more crapware from HTC and Sprint. No, I don't want "Sense UI," thanks, and I don't want your NASCAR app either (or the 30 or so other nonsense apps you stuck on the EVO).
The issue is choice. Sure, some people might want that stuff, but others don't. Don't make your apps part of the system install, and or at least allow me to uninstall them. Also, why not an easy "wipe to stock Android" option (with minor mods for the carriers network, and carriers policies enforced if need be, rather than a full frontal assault of crapware).
It's one of the strengths of Android that carriers and manufacturers *can* do this stuff. It's one of the reasons they likely chose Android in the first place. But that doesn't change the "choice" aspect. Let the consumers decide if they want your "enhanced" UI, and your apps, don't require it.
Carriers (and handset manufacturers) are giving Android a black eye with this "you gotta swallow our stuff" approach. Most consumers aren't going to realize the difference and may not know it's not Android, and or are going to be confused by it. It's a shame, but sadly, it's not unexpected.
That's the new Samsung Captivate. Arguably the best Android device AT&T has in its in store lineup (the Nexus One is fantastic, but it's not an in store average consumer choice, and the end is near anyway). In fact the Captivate is one of the best Android phones period, hardware wise. It's got a fantastic large super AMOLED screen, the fastest GPU in any Android phone out right now, a 1GHz CPU, HD video capabilities, Bluetooth 3.0, and it's thin (the thinnest Android device out right now) and light yet feels very solid in your hand.
With all that going for it, what's the problem with the Captivate? Well, it's all that crapware above that CANNOT BE REMOVED (not easily, not by your average consumer). Not only do I not want it, some of it is borderline underhanded gougeware. Several of those apps will *not work on wifi* and if you click into them once they automatically add on features that have additional monthly charges that you get auto-subscribed to (recurring until you unsubscribe). Most of the AT&T apps are also just plain confusing because they duplicate stock Android apps. Why the hell do I need the AT&T music app and the AT&T navigator? Oh, yeah, again, because they force me to use the carrier network (more charges) and they rope me into other AT&T services. Another downside is that AT&T has chosen to disallow the installation of third party apps from outside of the Android Market, that's not a huge problem for most consumers, but it's still a bummer for people that want more choices.
And, you get a bunch of great new contacts too.
One top of the app debacle, and the contact mangling (I'll add those if I want them, thank you) you can also see from the screen shots that you get a different theme and home screen (Launcher) than stock Android too (it's blue and grey, and has different icons, etc.). Apparently, this is the Samsung "TouchWiz" UI.
The colors in the theme actually aren't that bad. The problem is that many built in Android apps expect the stock theme and apparently themselves have colors and graphics customized for it, so it makes for an uglier and less seamless UI overall. That's arguably an issue with said apps (like the Market), but still, it's there. It's not as bad as some other carriers, but the real problem is that it's not what I want and I don't have a choice.
As another example, I also recently got an HTC EVO 4G from Google I/O (thanks Google!). This is also a very impressive hardware device. But, dissapointingly, it's saddled by even more crapware from HTC and Sprint. No, I don't want "Sense UI," thanks, and I don't want your NASCAR app either (or the 30 or so other nonsense apps you stuck on the EVO).
The issue is choice. Sure, some people might want that stuff, but others don't. Don't make your apps part of the system install, and or at least allow me to uninstall them. Also, why not an easy "wipe to stock Android" option (with minor mods for the carriers network, and carriers policies enforced if need be, rather than a full frontal assault of crapware).
It's one of the strengths of Android that carriers and manufacturers *can* do this stuff. It's one of the reasons they likely chose Android in the first place. But that doesn't change the "choice" aspect. Let the consumers decide if they want your "enhanced" UI, and your apps, don't require it.
Carriers (and handset manufacturers) are giving Android a black eye with this "you gotta swallow our stuff" approach. Most consumers aren't going to realize the difference and may not know it's not Android, and or are going to be confused by it. It's a shame, but sadly, it's not unexpected. 
Comments
*cough* Shortyz *cough*